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Roads, pipes and sewers dominate regional budget By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Though it might sometimes be lost in discussion of relatively small projects such as a needle exchange program or contributing to a university campus, one has only to look at Halton Region's budget to see that the basics of roads, water pipes and sewers still dominate what the upper-tier municipality provides its almost half million residents. Of the Region's proposed $700-million operating budget for 2010, staff are projecting $225 million will be spent by the public works department, which oversees water, wastewater and transportation services, according to a budget presentation given to the planning and public works committee last week. That's actually a 3.2 per cent drop in gross expenditures from last year, a planned reduction that has allowed the regional treasury to propose no increases next year to property taxes for regional services or water rates. However, with the complement of region- al staff proposed to be frozen at 2008 levels, that puts pressure on existing staff to handle all the projects needed to service the growing region, admitted Mitch Zamojc, commissioner of public works. Specifically, Zamojc said his department is examining ways to streamline project management for the massive amount of capital projects it is undertaking. The proposed capital budget for 2010 is $395 million, and 92 per cent of that is for works projects. The Region has already set aside $550 million in previous budgets that remains unspent for 590 in-process works projects, Zamojc added. One of the ways the Region is looking to speed up projects is by examining how it receives bids for contracts. The Region has begun hiring one company to do the environmental assessment, design and contract administration for large projects, rather than receiving bids from companies for each of those steps, said Zamojc. TOY DRIVE 7 · Thursday, December 10, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com See Oakville page 9 The Winner of a Free Closet Makeover from the recent Girls Night Out on November 18, 2009 is WENDY PERKINS of Oakville. WINNER! VALUE 1500 Upper Middle Road at Third Line 361 Cornwall Road at Allan Street ( (Near Whole Foods Market) ) 905-847-3299 CONGRATULATIONS! QUALITY INTEGRITY 905-815-0320 Grand Opening Special CLOSETS · HOME OFFICES · GARAGES · MEDIA CENTRES OAKVILLE'S NEWEST DINING EXPERIENCE SEAFOOD, STEAK & SONG 266 LAKESHORE RD. EAST 905.339-2777 COME VISIT SEACAN'S FRESH FISH MARKET & TAKE-OUT NEXT DOOR SEACAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 2009 HOME RENO TAX CREDIT